Mabo Day and the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library

 In 2008, we named the Library building on the JCU campus in Douglas, Townsville (now known as the Bebegu Yumba campus), the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library in honour of Mr Mabo.

The Library and the campus are directly connected to Mr Mabo and the early part of his journey towards the landmark court cases which changed the legal landscape of Australia. He worked as a groundskeeper at JCU (many of our trees and plants were from his tenure) and guest lectured for a number of courses. When he learned that the Australian Government didn't recognise his family's claim to their native lands, he came to the JCU Library to do some of his research.

We are immensely proud to be part of Eddie Koiki Mabo's story, and we are also proud of our position in Bindal country, in a space that has always been connected with learning, science and culture.

In the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library building, we have an interpretive wall that looks at the timeline of the Mabo Decision and our connection to the lands on which our buildings stand. But if you can't come into the Library in person, you can still see the wall. There is an online Timeline which goes into the events depicted on the wall with more detail, and included in this Guide is a virtual tour of the wall.

We hope you enjoy the Guide. Do come in and visit the Library to see the wall in person, if you can.


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